MSI announced a partnership with Bigfoot Networks, the company behind the Killer NIC series of accelerated network interface cards (NICs). The immediate results of this would be the motherboard major bundling Killer NICs with some of its high-end motherboards. MSI also hinted that it could work to integrate the Killer NIC logic onto motherboards. Knowing how MSI was the first to be out with a LucidLogix Hydra Engine motherboard, the idea of integration of Killer NIC onto one of its future motherboards doesn't seem far-fetched.

“We are pleased to be working with MSI,” said Michael Howse, CEO of Bigfoot Networks. “The Killer 2100 gaming network card is a perfect complement to the MSI Big Bang family of mainboard solutions that will give gamers a competitive edge in online play.” Andy Tung, VP of MSI USA says “MSI mainboards with Military Class components provide a great backbone for any gaming system and the Killer 2100 network card is a way to improve performance and get one step ahead of the competition.”

I heard they'll be selling their high-end motherboards with a bottle of "l33t c0br@ Snake Oil" as well. For a small price bump of 20$, you will enjoy a competitive edge in online play by using this unique snake oil which will improve your reflexes, speed up your synapses and infuse you with the essence of a l33t gamer! Who could refuse?

Let's hope the bundle includes a set of magnetic go-faster-stripes that I can stick on my case to make the PC go a little bit faster. It's true! It's true! The magnetic stickers helps to transfer heat in addition to reducing dangerous radiation. LOL.

Damn, that NIC is a big one, thick and stuff.
The thing is having this card, it's just like having a Lamborghini on a 60mph limited highway. Having a Lambo or a Mini will still take you there on THE SAME time.
But yeah, the Lambo looks goooooood!!!

i dont really see hydra as a joke though. Shame it doesnt seem like it will take off.

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Nor do I
I just don't think it needs to be a premium feature but something that comes standard on any SLI/Crossfire boards
And I also believe Built in NICs are a good idea even if it barely makes a difference it's still a positive Diff

What makes a big difference are good packet schedulers. But you can actually get that with CFosSpeed program. Some ASUS boards even bundle this very program (usually ROG class) under the name ASUS GameFirst.

Basically what it does is that it gives game network packets a top priority allowing them to be sent and recieved faster and just make the network traffic more fluid. In general you can download with eMule/uTorrent at reasonable speeds and still be able to play a FPS game online.
Been there, tried that and it works. This also helps if you're downloading something but still want to watch Youtube video at the same time. It will give higher priority to Youtube until you stop watching it. Then it gives full priority to a download again.

What makes a big difference are good packet schedulers. But you can actually get that with CFosSpeed program. Some ASUS boards even bundle this very program (usually ROG class) under the name ASUS GameFirst.

Basically what it does is that it gives game network packets a top priority allowing them to be sent and recieved faster and just make the network traffic more fluid. In general you can download with eMule/uTorrent at reasonable speeds and still be able to play a FPS game online.
Been there, tried that and it works. This also helps if you're downloading something but still want to watch Youtube video at the same time. It will give higher priority to Youtube until you stop watching it. Then it gives full priority to a download again.

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My router does that, but it does it for every connected device on my network. It's called QoS. Nothing special.

What makes a big difference are good packet schedulers. But you can actually get that with CFosSpeed program. Some ASUS boards even bundle this very program (usually ROG class) under the name ASUS GameFirst.

Basically what it does is that it gives game network packets a top priority allowing them to be sent and recieved faster and just make the network traffic more fluid. In general you can download with eMule/uTorrent at reasonable speeds and still be able to play a FPS game online.
Been there, tried that and it works. This also helps if you're downloading something but still want to watch Youtube video at the same time. It will give higher priority to Youtube until you stop watching it. Then it gives full priority to a download again.

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So Like I bitch about issues with gaming quite a bit and your the first person Ive seen mention this which I'll definiely give a shot

My router does that, but it does it for every connected device on my network. It's called QoS. Nothing special.

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Yes and no. Router QoS is more like a post-processing. It does help a bit but not as much as CFosSpeed which works on a driver level on a system where stuff (packets) is actually issued.
It just works better if the system actually knows what has issued a certain packet and under what conditions than re-organizing them when they are already on a highway of packets...

Yes and no. Router QoS is more like a post-processing. It does help a bit but not as much as CFosSpeed which works on a driver level on a system where stuff (packets) is actually issued.
It just works better if the system actually knows what has issued a certain packet and under what conditions than re-organizing them when they are already on a highway of packets...

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Even though you didn't post anything new I needed to thank you again...
WOW CfosSpeed took care of my Hulu stutter and Youtube videos are loading way faster...
But I still wouldn't mind trying out That mobo

Yes and no. Router QoS is more like a post-processing. It does help a bit but not as much as CFosSpeed which works on a driver level on a system where stuff (packets) is actually issued.
It just works better if the system actually knows what has issued a certain packet and under what conditions than re-organizing them when they are already on a highway of packets...

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Wait!! Post processing?! You got it all wrong. Post processing is something done AFTER the thing was processed, but QoS is processing at hardware level the packets in and from the NIC. It just sorts them out and give priority on a real time level. No post processing here, but actual processing. Mainly this QoS depends on hardware of the router, how good it is, since sometimes it can creates overhead that slow the connection down. E.g. if the router CPU is to weak, the buffer memory fills, etc.
So my guess is that NIC has a powerful processor and a lot of memory buffer, plus a quality QoS implementation, that makes all those features so expensive...

And most home-based routers have shitty QoS, so this can technically help. If only routers would use the Broadcom BCM4712 chipset again (which had near-realtime QoS) that we wouldn't need things like the "Killer NIC".

And most home-based routers have shitty QoS, so this can technically help. If only routers would use the Broadcom BCM4712 chipset again (which had near-realtime QoS) that we wouldn't need things like the "Killer NIC".

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The thing is the price of a single "Killer NIC" will get you a good router.